Jewelry display device



United States Patent inventors Thomas V. Del Bonis 30 Neptune SL, Cranston, 02910; Lawrence Del Bonis, 98 Wildwood Trail, East Greenwich, Rhode island 02818 [21] Appl. No. 839,321 [22] Filed July 7,1969 [45) Patented Oct. 6, 1970 [54] JEWELRY DISPLAY DEVICE 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 206/4534, 312/1 18 [51 Int. Cl 865d 25/54, A471" 3/00 [50] Field of Search 206/4531, 45.34,44.1 1, 65, 78(8 80, 45.24; 312/1 18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,263 4/1886 Buck 206/45.31(UX) Gilmore............ l Parks ..206/44.11(UX) Fussner 206/4531 Pilliod et a1 206/4534 Greene et a1 206/4531 Holley 206/65 Scholl 206/78(B)UX Primary Examiner- William T Dixson. Jr. Attorney-Salter and Michaelson ABSTRACT: A display device for jewelry including a panel having a plurality of openings formed therein that define open-ended compartments for receiving cards on which articles of jewelry are mounted, the cards being frictionally received in the compartments and being removable therefrom at the rear of the panel, and a transparent sheet overlying the front surface of the panel and defining a protective cover for the articles displayed on the cards which are visible through the open-ended compartments in the panel.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 s mum 55 W5 M w an a I Att ys'.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 3,532,209

Sheet 3 of 3 Thomas V Del Banis, Lawrence Del Bonis,

3% r 7 i-y Inventors:

JEWELRY DISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a display device and has application particularly for the display of small jewelry items.

Prior to the instant invention, small articles of jewelry such as earrings, pins and the like have normally been displayed on cards that have either been mounted on racks or mounted in a compartmented display panel. The compartmented display panel included a plurality of recesses formed in the front face thereof and into which the cards were inserted in frictional relation. Since it was necessary to remove the cards from the front of the display device, it was not practical to cover the articles of jewelry with a protective covering, and hence the articles were available for handling by the customer and also open to accumulation of dust and dirt thereon. It is also understood that because the jewelry articles as displayed on the cards in the compartments were accessible to the customer, pilfering was quite common in this type of display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The display device embodied in the present invention includes a display panel having a plurality of openings formed therein in spaced relation, a marginal shoulder extending around the periphery of each opening on the front surface of the panel to define a plurality of open-ended compartments. A plurality ofdisplay cards, each of which has an article ofjewelry mounted thereon, are removably located within the compartments such that the articles are visible through the openings in the compartments. The cards are removable from the compartments from the rear of the panel, and a transparent sheet overlies the front surface of the panel to define a protective cover for the articles displayed on the card and which are visible through the openings.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that includes a display panel having open-ended compartments formed therein in which a plurality of article-holding cards are mounted for display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display device that includes a protective cover for the articles that are mounted on the device.

Still another object is to provide a display device having a display panel in which a plurality of compartments are located, an outwardly projecting flange extending around the opening of each compartment and engaging a transparent sheet that extends over the front surface of the panel so as to space the sheet from the articles mounted for display in the compartments.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display device embodied in the present invention as it is mounted on a counter top;

FIG 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial rear elevational view of the display device with portions broken away;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, showing a modified form of the invention in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective of one of the display cards that is mounted for display in the display device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the display device embodied in the present invention is illustrated generally at 10, and as shown, is employed for the display of small jewelry articles such a as pierced earrings. It is understood, however, that the display device 10 as described herein may be utilized for the display of other articles of jewelry, or for the display of articles other than jewelry, and that the jewelry articles as described herein are for purposes of illustration only.

The display device 10 includes a frame generally indicated at 12 that is defined by spaced vertical frame members 14 and 16, a lower frame member 18 and an upper frame member 20. The frame members l4, 16, 18 and 210 are secured together at the corners thereof by any convenient means such as nailing or adhesive. Joined to the frame members on the rear surfaces thereof is a marginal backing member 22 which may be formed in sections, the backing member 22 cooperatingwith the frame members to define an interior seat, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. In order to display the articles of jewelry, a panel generally indicated at 28 is provided and, as will be described, the panel 28 is received against the seat defined by the interior surface of the backing member 22. In order to positively locate the panel 28 against the interior seat, a slot 30 is formed in the lower frame member 18 and a slot 31 is formed in the upper frame member 20. The slot 31 is cut somewhat deeper into the frame member 20 than the slot 30, which provides for lifting of the panel 28 into the slot 31 and then dropping it into position in the slot 30. It is seen that the depth of the slot 31 is sufficient to capture the panel 28 therein when the panel is located against the seat as defined by the interior surface of the marginal backing member 22.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the panel 28 includes a body portion 33 in which a plurality of pockets or compartments 32 are formed in spaced relation. The compartments 32 are defined by outwardly extending marginal edges 34 that form the periphery of the compartments, a shoulder 36 being joined to the peripheral edges 34 and defining an interior seat for the compartments 32. Joined to the shoulders 36 are outwardly projecting flanges 38 that define an opening therebetween and, as will be described, also provide a spacing for locating a transparent cover in spaced relation with respect to the articles being displayed in the compartments 32. Each of the compartments 32 as formed in the panel 28 is adapted to receive a display card 40, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 5. The configuration of the display cards 40 correspond generallyto that of the compartments 32 and, as shown in FIG. 3, the configuration of the compartments 32 and the dis play cards 40 are substantially rectangular. As further shown in FIG. 5, the display cards 40 are provided for the display of pierced earrings and, for this purpose, a flocked portion 42 is secured to each card 40 and is provided with spaced openings therein for receiving pins 44 of pierced earrings 46. The conventional clutch 48 is normally mounted on a pin 44 on the rear side of each card 40 for securing the earrings 46 in place on the cards. The lowermost edge of each card 40 is formed with a rearwardly extending tab 50 which, as shown in FIG. 2, extends outwardly of the compartment in which the card is located, thereby providing a convenient means for removing a card 40 from the compartment as desired. It is seen that each of the cards 40 may be located in a compartment 32 by inserting it within the compartment such that the edges thereof engage the edges 34 of the compartment. The marginal forward edges of the flocked portion 42 of the card will engage the rear surface of the shoulder 36, thereby positively locating the card 40 within the compartment. Since the: upper and lower edges of the card and the side edges thereof are frictionally engaged with the edges 34 of its compartment, the card will be fixed in position within the compartment. Further, since the compartment 32 is exposed to the exterior of the panel 28 through the opening as defined by the peripheral flange 38, location of the panel 28 within the frame 12 as previously described will provide for the display of the jewelry articles in a convenient and attractive manner,

It is understood that the frame 12 may be located in a display case or mounted on the top of a counter and, for this purpose, a wire stand 52 is hingedly secured to the rear of the frame through brackets 54. The wire stand 52 may be hinged to an upright position as illustrated in FIG. 1 for mounting the display device on a countertop for the display of the articles therein.

Since the articles of jewelry as mounted on the cards 40 would normally be exposed exteriorly as mounted on the panel 28, it is preferable to enclose the compartments from the exterior side thereof, and for this purpose a transparent sheet 56 isprovided and extends over the entire front area of the panel 28. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the transparent sheet 56 engages the outermost edges of the flanges 38 and is thus spaced from the jewelry articles 46. As shown in FIGS. l3 the transparent sheet is flexible and extends in intimate contact with the body portion 33 of the panel 28 and may be secured thereto by heat sealing or by an adhesive or any other convenient means. It is seen that the transparent sheet 56 not only defines a surface for protecting the jewelry articles from dust and dirt in the position of display, but also acts to prevent pilfering of the jewelry articles, particularly when the display device is mounted on a countertop.

in use of the device, the cards 40 are located in the compartments 32 as required and whenever a particular jewelry article is purchased by a customer or presented to a customer for inspection, the card is removed from the rear of the display device by grasping the tab 50 and pulling outwardly thereon. Should a replacement card be required, it is simply inserted into the open compartment from the rear of the panel. Since the cards 40 are accessible only from the rear of the display device, the articles as displayed on the cards are effectively protected from pilfering and will be handled only by the clerk in the establishment in which the display device is located. it is also understood that the entire panel 28 is removable from the frame 12 of the display device by simply lifting the panel upwardly within the limits of the slot 31 and then withdrawing it from the seat defined by the backing member 22 forwardly of the frame.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and includes a frame generally indicated at 60 that includes an upper frame member 62, a lower frame member 64 and spaced vertical side frame members not shown. The upper and lower frame members 62 and 64 are formed as an integral unit and are rabbited at the upper and lower ends thereof to define an upper slot 66 and a lower slot 68 for receiving a panel 28 of the type as previously described. It is also understood that the panel 28 is formed with the compartments 32 as described hereinabove for receiving cards 40 having articles of jewelry mounted thereon for display. The upper and lower frame sections 62 and 64 are further formed with upper and lower slots 70 and 72 that are similar to the slots 66 and 68. However, the upper and lower slots 70 and 72 are provided for receiving a flat transparent sheet 74 such as glass or a clear plastic material. The flat sheet 74 serves the same purpose as the flexible sheet 56 as previously described, and covers the exterior surface of the mounting board 28 so as to enclose the openings formed in the compartments 32, thereby protecting the jewelry articles as contained on the cards located in the compartments. The sheet 74 is removable from the slots and 72 by lifting it within the larger slot 70 and then withdrawing the sheet forwardly of the frame.

We claim:

1, in a display device, a panel having a plurality of openings formed therein in spaced relation, a marginal edge extending around the periphery of each opening and extending forwardly thereof, a marginal shoulder joined to the marginal edge of each opening at right angles thereto to form an openended compartment therewith, the marginal shoulders defining an interior marginal seat for each compartment, a plurality of cards, each of which has means for mounting an article for display thereon, each of said cards being located in a compartment and being engageable with the seat in the compartment in which it is located, the marginal edges of said cards being frictionally received within the compartments to positively mount the cards therein, wherein each card is removably mounted in a compartment such that the article mounted for display thereon is visible through the opening in the compartment, each card being removable from its compartment from the rear of said panel, an outwardly projecting marginal flange joined to the marginal shoulder of each compartment and extending forwardly at right angles thereto, and a transparent sheet overlying the front surface of said panel and defining a protective cover for the articles displayed on said cards which are visible through said openings, said marginal flange forming a protective edge spacing the transparent sheet from the articles displayed through said openings on said cards.

2. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, a frame for said panel having a marginal backing member that defines an interior seat, the marginal edges of said panel being received against said interior seat, wherein the open-ended compartments with the display cards located therein are mounted within said frame for display.

3. In a display device as set forth in claim 2, slots being formed in opposed sides of said frame adjacent to said interior seat for receiving complementary edges of said panel, wherein said panel is mounted in a positive position in said frame.

4. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, said transparent sheet being formed ofa flexible material that is adhered to the front surface of said panel to conform to the configuration thereof.

5. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, each of said cards having a tab formed on a peripheral edge thereof, said tabs projecting rearwardly of said cards when said cards are mounted in the compartments and providing convenient gripping elements for extracting said cards from the display position in said compartments.

6. In a display device as set forth in claim 1, a frame for said panel and including opposed slots formed therein adjacent to the rear side thereof for receiving complementary edges of said panel therein for mounting said panel in said frame, and opposed slots formed in said frame adjacent to the forward side thereof for receiving complementary edges of said transparent sheet for mounting said transparent sheet in said frame. 

